Coronation Street fans were left stunned when serial killer Stephen Reid’s terrifying reign finally came to an end — but what many didn’t realize at the time is that the ending they watched was not the one originally planned. In a surprising behind-the-scenes revelation, a Coronation Street cast member has confirmed that Stephen’s final chapter was rewritten late in production — and the reasons behind the change reveal just how carefully the show balances storytelling, emotion, and legacy.

For months, viewers had been gripped by Stephen Reid’s chilling transformation from struggling businessman to full-fledged killer. His descent into madness began subtly — a desperate man cornered by financial ruin and shame — and spiraled into a terrifying campaign of murder, manipulation, and deceit that left Weatherfield reeling. From pushing Leo over a balcony to poisoning Rufus and gaslighting Elaine, Stephen became one of the soap’s darkest villains in recent memory. Fans expected his downfall to be bloody, dramatic, and final. And while his death was certainly shocking, it turns out that producers had a very different fate in mind before last-minute creative changes altered everything.

Todd Boyce, who portrayed Stephen with chilling intensity, recently revealed in an interview that the original ending for his character was “much darker and far more final.” According to Boyce, early drafts of the script had Stephen taking his own life after being cornered by the police — a tragic ending meant to mirror his deep psychological unraveling and guilt. “He was supposed to go out completely broken,” Boyce explained. “It was haunting, emotional, and devastating. But after a lot of discussions, the producers decided they wanted to give fans something with more closure — something that would allow the victims and their families to have justice.”

This change came late in the production process, with rewrites taking place only weeks before filming the climactic episodes. The final version — which saw Stephen shot dead by police after taking Jenny hostage in a desperate standoff — was chosen to provide a sense of catharsis rather than pure tragedy. It gave the audience a moment of justice, allowing the long-running tension to explode in one unforgettable sequence. “They wanted him to face the consequences,” Boyce shared. “After everything Stephen had done, it felt right that someone else pulled the trigger, not him.”